US12549842B2ActiveUtilityA1

Pop-out mobile cameras and compact actuators

46
Assignee: COREPHOTONICS LTDPriority: Apr 30, 2022Filed: Apr 28, 2023Granted: Feb 10, 2026
Est. expiryApr 30, 2042(~15.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:GOLDSTEIN KOBIGOLDENBERG EPHRAIMKOWAL YIFTAHDEUTSCH DANABHUS VINAY
H04N 23/50G03B 2205/0069G03B 2205/0015G03B 30/00G03B 5/06G03B 3/10G03B 17/04G03B 17/12H04N 23/687H04N 23/57H04N 23/55G02B 7/021H04N 23/54
46
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
33
References
34
Claims

Abstract

Pop-out cameras having pop-out lens modules that comprise an inner part, an outer part having an outer part diameter d O , a gap between the inner part and outer part having a maximum gap width W G -Max, a moving lens group fixedly coupled to the inner part, the moving lens group including a plurality of N lens elements and having an optical axis, wherein a maximum lens element diameter of all the moving lens elements is DA Max and actuators that include an open spring located in the gap, wherein the open spring is operative to move the inner part relative to the outer part in a first direction parallel to the optical axis to a pop-out state when no external forces are applied, wherein the inner part can move relative to the outer part in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a collapsed state under an external force, wherein do=DA Max +a penalty p, wherein 0.5 mm<p<2.5 mm, and wherein 3 mm<DA Max <15 mm.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pop-out lens module, comprising:
 an inner part;   an outer part having an outer part diameter d O ;   a gap between the inner part and outer part having a maximum gap width W G-Max ;   a moving lens group fixedly coupled to the inner part, the moving lens group including a plurality of N lens elements and having an optical axis, wherein a maximum lens element diameter of all the moving lens elements is DA Max ; and   an actuator that includes two open springs located inside the gap, wherein each open spring is non-helical and comprises a middle section, a first section extending from one end of the middle section, and a second section extending from an opposing end of the middle section, wherein the first and second sections are configured to be displaced towards one another inside the gap when an external force is applied, and are further configured to be displaced away from each other inside the gap when the external force is not applied, wherein a direction of displacement of the first and second sections is oriented parallel to an optical axis of the moving lens group,   wherein the open springs are operative to move the inner part relative to the outer part in a first direction parallel to the optical axis to an operative state when the external force is not applied, and to move the inner part relative to the outer part in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a collapsed state under the external force.   
     
     
         2 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein do=DA Max +a penalty p, wherein 0.5 mm<p<2.5 mm, and wherein 3 mm<DA Max <15 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 2 , wherein 0.5 mm<p<2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 2 , wherein 0.5 mm<p<1.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 2 , wherein 0.5 mm<p<1 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 2 , wherein 5 mm<DA<12.5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 2 , wherein 5 mm<DA<10 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring has an open spring length L Spring >W G-Max . 
     
     
         9 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 8 , wherein 1 mm≤L spring ≤15 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 8 , wherein 4 mm≤L Spring ≤8 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is 1-folded. 
     
     
         12 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is 7-folded. 
     
     
         13 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is straight. 
     
     
         14 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is curved. 
     
     
         15 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is tapered. 
     
     
         16 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring is angled. 
     
     
         17 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring has 2-6 serpentines. 
     
     
         18 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring has 2-4 windings. 
     
     
         19 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring has an open spring width W Spring  and wherein 0.1 mm≤W Spring ≤1 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 19 , wherein 0.15 mm≤W Sprin ≤0.5 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the open spring has an open spring height in a collapsed state c-H Spring  and an open spring height in a pop-out state H Spring , and wherein a ratio c-H Spring /H Spring  fulfills ¼≤c-H Spring /H Spring ≤¾. 
     
     
         22 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 21 , wherein the open spring has an open spring height in a collapsed state c-H Spring  and an open spring height in a pop-out state H Spring , wherein 1 mm≤c-H Spring ≤15 mm and wherein 1 mm≤H Spring ≤20 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 22 , wherein 1 mm≤c-H Spring ≤10 mm and wherein 1 mm≤H Spring ≤15 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 22 , wherein 1 mm≤c-H Spring ≤8 mm and wherein 1 mm≤H Spring ≤12 mm. 
     
     
         25 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-out lens module includes a kinematic coupling mechanism that provides mechanical accuracy and repeatability to the movement of the inner part relative to the outer part, and wherein the kinematic coupling mechanism includes three pin-groove mechanisms. 
     
     
         26 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , included in a pop-out camera, wherein the pop-out camera has a total track length TTL in the operative state and a collapsed total track length cTTL in the collapsed state, and wherein cTTL/TTL<0.9. 
     
     
         27 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein cTTL/TTL<0.8. 
     
     
         28 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein the pop-out camera includes a retractable cover window and wherein the retractable cover window pushes on the inner part to bring the pop-out camera to the collapsed state. 
     
     
         29 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein the pop-out camera includes a lens formed by the moving lens group. 
     
     
         30 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein the pop-out camera includes a lens, wherein the lens is formed by the moving lens group fixedly coupled to the inner part and by a non-moving lens group fixedly coupled to the outer part. 
     
     
         31 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein the pop-out camera is a Wide camera including a Wide camera image sensor having a sensor diagonal SD in the range of 12-30 mm, wherein the Wide camera has an effective focal length EFL in the range of 5-20 mm, and wherein cTTL/SD<0.7. 
     
     
         32 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 26 , wherein the pop-out camera is a Tele camera having an effective focal length EFL in the range of 10-30 mm, and wherein a ratio cTTL/EFL<0.8. 
     
     
         33 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-out camera is included in a mobile device. 
     
     
         34 . The pop-out lens module of  claim 33 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

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